The Post 20 Twins ended a long weekend of baseball by splitting a doubleheader with the Fairbanks Post 11 49ers in Anchorage.
Both games were league contests, leaving the Twins at 3-1 in the league and 3-1 overall. The first game was scheduled for nine innings and went to the Twins 8-2. Fairbanks prevailed 10-9 in the second game, which was scheduled for seven and went eight.
Twins coach Robb Quelland was pleased with the opening weekend, considering so many on his team had never played or practiced together before.
“Walking away with three wins on the weekend is good in any Legion season, and in this one we should have won the fourth game if not for a few things,” Quelland said.
In the first game, Logan Smith pitched a beauty for the Twins. The Soldotna High School senior went eight innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out five.
Quelland coached Smith during the high school season and was not surprised.
“He came on strong,” the coach said. “We didn’t have a lot of innings for our pitching staff, but he improved as the season went along.”
Seth Adkins came on to close the door with a perfect ninth, striking out one.
The Twins scratched out nine hits with Cody Quelland leading the way at 2 for 3 with three runs and an RBI. Calvin Hills had two hits and three RBIs, while Kenny Griffin added two RBIs.
Quelland said that, despite the 10 a.m. start, his team was ready.
“We came out strong and played a clean game,” he said. “Our pitching was on, our defense was on and our offense clicked.”
In the second game, the Twins fell behind 9-6 after the top of the sixth inning, but came back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie it. Fairbanks scored once in the eighth to take the victory.
Quelland got the start for the Twins and went five innings, giving up nine runs — seven earned — on eight hits. He walked five and struck out one.
Coach Quelland said it was not ideal to have his son start on the mound after catching nine innings in the previous game, but he was happy with how the team overall battled back against that adversity.
Paul Steffensen took the loss in relief, giving up one run on three hits. He walked four and struck out one.
Steffensen led the 12-hit attack at the plate by going 4 for 5 with three runs and an RBI. David Belger was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, while Griffin and Jeremy Kupferschmid also added 2-for-4 performances.
The Twins are at Wasilla for a noon doubleheader Wednesday.
